An I-405 freeway widening proposal that uses existing carpool lanes to create tolled express lanes between the 73 and the I-605 will be funded by fees from motorists who use the priced lanes, the Orange County Transportation Authority has declared.

In an Aug. 21 letter, OCTA Chairman Paul Glaab addressed cities’ concerns regarding the possibility of more toll lanes and said the goal of the $1.7-billion express lane option is to “move as many vehicles through the lanes as possible during peak commute hours.”

In early August, mayors from Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Westminster, as well as the mayor pro tem of Huntington Beach, signed a letter opposing the toll lane option, known as Alternative 3, and endorsing Alternative 2, which adds two general purpose lanes in each direction between Euclid Street and the I-605 at a price tag of $1.4 billion.

Alternative 1 costs $1.3 billion and proposes adding one general purpose lane in each direction between Euclid Street and the I-605. A single regular lane in each direction from Euclid to the I-605 interchange is also included in Alternative 3.

The mayors argue that Alternative 2 is not only cheaper – by $300 million – but also doesn’t “burden…the population to obtain transponders and pay to use the taxpayer-funded improvements.” They say Measure M2, a half-cent local sales tax approved by voters in 2006 that will fund the proposed project, does not authorize the construction of toll lanes.

In the OCTA letter, Glaab said that all alternatives meet promises made to taxpayers.

Glaab said that under M2, one general purpose lane between Euclid and the I-605 was promised to the voters. Alternative 3 adds that lane and the tolled express lane, the letter says.

The difference in funding over the $1.3 billion would be generated by tolls from motorists who use the express lanes, he said.

But, to Fountain Valley Mayor John Collins, the bottom line is that people don’t want a toll lane.

In response to the OCTA letter, Collins said: “The toll lane was never mentioned in M2.”

Regarding the statement that motorists would be burdened to obtain transponders, Glaab said: “This is common practice in Orange County, where more than 950,000 units have already been issued by the 91 Express Lanes and the Transportation Corridor Agencies.”

He added: “Express lanes are becoming more and more prevalent as a means to manage congestion in busy corridors.” Glaab referenced a similar electronic toll collection system implemented by Los Angeles Metro on the I-110.

In regards to the mayors’ statement that Alternative 3 would result in the loss of a free carpool lane that is replaced by the tolled express lanes, Glaab said it’s been assumed that vehicles with three people inside would travel for free in the express lanes.

Glaab added that congestion is so bad that the I-405 carpool lanes are classified as “operationally deficient” during peak hours. Currently, Caltrans is updating its I-405 analysis, which will likely trigger a review of carpool occupancy requirements, the letter said.

The board is expected to vote on a project alternative on Sept. 24, OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik said. Caltrans will make the ultimate decision later this fall and the final EIR is scheduled for completion in spring 2013, Zlotnik added.

Alejandra Molina writes about immigration, race, and religion for the Southern California News Group. In her decade-long career, she has reported how gentrification has affected downtown Santa Ana, how racism contributes the high black infant death rate, and how President Donald Trump is impacting undocumented communities across Southern California.